Sonowal urges ASEAN on AEP
Source: The Sangai Express

Guwahati, July 05 2017: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stressed the importance of India's 'Act East' policy and called for support from ASEAN to realize the growth potential of the State through close economic ties with the Southeast Asian Nations .

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural Ministerial Session of Delhi Dialogue IX of India-ASEAN dialogue relations, which is being organized by the Government of India in New Delhi aiming at strengthening the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership .

Stating the event as a historic moment, which has unfolded coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel, first by any Prime Minister of India on the occasion of 25 years of diplomatic relations, the Chief Minister said, "Guwahati is no longer just the Gateway to North East India.

We see it as the Gateway to Southeast Asia.

We have already started working to put the most modern infrastructures in Guwahati, be it Air Connectivity to ASEAN countries" .

Chief Minister Sonowal said that Assam Government recently opened an Act East Policy Affairs Department to work in tandem with the Central Government, and other North Eastern States in fulfilling the vision of the policy and implementation of various important projects .

The Chief Minister also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for articulating this policy immediately after NDA Government came to power and said that Delhi Dialogue would boost State Government's efforts to bring Assam to the forefront of the country's growth trajectory and open floodgates of opportunities to emerge as the gateway to the South East Asian Nations .

Sonowal also spoke about the vibrant inland river transport system that can be used for transportation of goods to prominent ports of the region extending up to Southeast Asia.

"This river transport, was, hugely used during the British Raj.

We want to revive that.

For that, we have decided to dredge the Brahmaputra to strengthen navigation", Sonowal added .

Saying that developing Assam as a top investment destination has been the goal of the Government, the Chief Minister stated that along with the traditional industries of Oil and Tea, Assam is emerging in the sectors of Agriculture, and Horticulture in a big way and will definitely be a potential sector for economic and commercial engagement with other countries .

The Chief Minister requested the Ministry of External Affairs and the ASEAN countries to open their consulate offices in Guwahati emphasizing that this would help promoting tourism, and business of both ASEAN and North East.

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